diff --git a/src/element_style.py b/src/element_style.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76bb0511
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/element_style.py
@@ -0,0 +1,621 @@
+"""
+Shared per-element style resolution for plugins (the x-style-elements system).
+
+Plugins expose user-customizable text styling — font, size, color, and x/y
+pixel offsets per named element — through their ``config_schema.json``. Two
+declaration forms exist in the plugin ecosystem:
+
+- The compact ``x-style-elements`` map on the ``customization`` object
+  (of-the-day is the reference). ``expand_style_elements()`` turns it into
+  the full per-element property blocks the web-UI config form renders.
+- The manual ``customization`` block: hand-written per-element objects with
+  ``font`` / ``font_size`` / ``text_color`` defaults (the scoreboards,
+  ledmatrix-music). No expansion needed — the defaults are read as-is.
+
+At render time a plugin builds an ``ElementStyleResolver`` from its config
+and the schema-file defaults, then asks for each element's resolved style::
+
+    from src.element_style import ElementStyleResolver, defaults_from_schema_file
+
+    resolver = ElementStyleResolver(config, defaults_from_schema_file(schema_path))
+    title = resolver.style('title_text', classic_font='PressStart2P-Regular.ttf',
+                           classic_size=8, classic_color=(255, 255, 255))
+    # title.font (PIL font / freetype.Face), title.color (RGB tuple),
+    # title.offset ((dx, dy)), title.user_forced, title.user_forced_color
+
+The central subtlety is what "the user set it" means. The web UI's save flow
+(``schema_manager.merge_with_defaults``) writes the FULL schema-default
+object into ``config.json`` on every save, whether or not the user touched
+the styling section — so a value merely being *present* in config is not an
+override. A value only counts as user-forced when it genuinely differs from
+the schema default for that element. When nothing is forced, ``style()``
+returns exactly the ``classic_*`` values the caller passes (the plugin's
+pre-customization styling), so an untouched config renders byte-identically
+to the classic code path. Note the classic values and the schema defaults
+may legitimately differ (e.g. football's status_text: schema declares 4x6,
+the classic loader fell back to PressStart) — the schema default is the
+override *reference*, the classic values are the *fallback*.
+
+``style()`` never raises: any malformed config value degrades to the classic
+style with a logged warning. Font faces are cached module-wide by
+(resolved path, size), and font files resolve independently of the caller's
+cwd (cwd ``assets/fonts/`` first for compatibility, then the core install
+root derived from this module's own location).
+"""
+
+import copy
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple, Union
+
+from PIL import ImageFont
+
+try:
+    import freetype
+except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover - freetype ships with the core
+    freetype = None
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Core install root (the directory that contains src/ and assets/fonts/),
+# derived from this file so fonts resolve regardless of the caller's cwd.
+_CORE_ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
+_FONTS_SUBDIR = os.path.join('assets', 'fonts')
+
+# Last-resort font when a requested file can't be found or loaded.
+_FALLBACK_FONT_NAME = 'PressStart2P-Regular.ttf'
+
+# (resolved absolute path, size) -> loaded font face. BDF faces are stateful
+# in principle, but the core's own FontManager shares faces the same way.
+_font_cache: Dict[Tuple[str, int], Any] = {}
+
+# Config keys a style element block carries, in schema/UI order.
+_STYLE_KEYS = ('font', 'font_size', 'text_color')
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ElementStyle:
+    """A fully resolved style for one named element."""
+
+    font: Any                       # PIL ImageFont or freetype.Face
+    color: Tuple[int, int, int]     # resolved RGB
+    offset: Tuple[int, int]         # user layout (x, y) offset, default (0, 0)
+    font_name: str                  # resolved font filename
+    font_size: int                  # resolved pixel size
+    user_forced: bool               # font or size genuinely overridden
+    user_forced_color: bool         # color genuinely overridden
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Font loading (cwd-independent, cached)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def resolve_font_path(font_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Locate a font file by name, independent of the caller's cwd.
+
+    Tries, in order: an absolute path as given; ``assets/fonts/<name>``
+    relative to the cwd (the classic loaders' behavior, kept first so a
+    process running from a different checkout keeps its own fonts); then
+    ``assets/fonts/<name>`` under the core install root. Returns an
+    absolute path, or None when the file doesn't exist anywhere.
+    """
+    if not font_name or not isinstance(font_name, str):
+        return None
+    if os.path.isabs(font_name):
+        return font_name if os.path.isfile(font_name) else None
+    candidates = (
+        os.path.join(os.getcwd(), _FONTS_SUBDIR, font_name),
+        os.path.join(_CORE_ROOT, _FONTS_SUBDIR, font_name),
+    )
+    for candidate in candidates:
+        if os.path.isfile(candidate):
+            return os.path.abspath(candidate)
+    return None
+
+
+def load_font(font_name: str, size: int) -> Any:
+    """Load a font by filename at a pixel size, with caching and fallback.
+
+    ``.bdf`` files load as ``freetype.Face`` (matching FontManager), other
+    files through ``PIL.ImageFont.truetype``. A missing or unloadable font
+    degrades to ``PressStart2P-Regular.ttf`` at the requested size, then to
+    PIL's built-in default — this function never raises.
+    """
+    try:
+        size = max(1, int(size))
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        size = 8
+
+    path = resolve_font_path(font_name)
+    if path is None:
+        logger.warning("Font file not found: %s, using fallback", font_name)
+        return _load_fallback_font(size)
+
+    cache_key = (path, size)
+    cached = _font_cache.get(cache_key)
+    if cached is not None:
+        return cached
+
+    try:
+        if path.lower().endswith('.bdf'):
+            if freetype is None:
+                raise RuntimeError("freetype not available for BDF fonts")
+            face = freetype.Face(path)
+            # Character size in 1/64th points at 72dpi == pixel size.
+            face.set_char_size(size * 64, size * 64, 72, 72)
+            font: Any = face
+        else:
+            font = ImageFont.truetype(path, size)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("Error loading font %s at %spx: %s, using fallback",
+                       path, size, e)
+        return _load_fallback_font(size)
+
+    _font_cache[cache_key] = font
+    return font
+
+
+def _load_fallback_font(size: int) -> Any:
+    """PressStart2P at the requested size, else PIL's built-in default."""
+    path = resolve_font_path(_FALLBACK_FONT_NAME)
+    if path is not None:
+        cache_key = (path, size)
+        cached = _font_cache.get(cache_key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+        try:
+            font = ImageFont.truetype(path, size)
+            _font_cache[cache_key] = font
+            return font
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("Error loading fallback font: %s", e)
+    return ImageFont.load_default()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Schema parsing
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def expand_style_elements(schema: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Expand a ``customization.x-style-elements`` declaration into the full
+    per-element property blocks the web-UI config form renders.
+
+    Each declared element becomes an object with ``font`` / ``font_size`` /
+    ``text_color`` properties (only the sub-fields the declaration carries),
+    tagged ``x-style-managed: true``; elements declaring ``offsets: true``
+    additionally get an entry under ``customization.layout`` with
+    ``x_offset`` / ``y_offset`` integers defaulting to 0. Hand-written
+    element blocks with the same key are left untouched.
+
+    Returns the schema unchanged (same object) when there is nothing to
+    expand; otherwise returns an expanded deep copy. Never raises.
+    """
+    try:
+        customization = schema.get('properties', {}).get('customization')
+        if not isinstance(customization, dict):
+            return schema
+        declaration = customization.get('x-style-elements')
+        if not isinstance(declaration, dict) or not declaration:
+            return schema
+
+        expanded = copy.deepcopy(schema)
+        customization = expanded['properties']['customization']
+        customization.setdefault('type', 'object')
+        props = customization.setdefault('properties', {})
+        layout_props: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+        for element_key, spec in declaration.items():
+            if not isinstance(spec, dict):
+                continue
+            if element_key not in props:
+                props[element_key] = _element_block_from_spec(element_key, spec)
+            if spec.get('offsets'):
+                layout_props[element_key] = _offset_block_from_spec(
+                    element_key, spec)
+
+        if layout_props:
+            layout = props.setdefault('layout', {
+                'type': 'object',
+                'title': 'Layout Offsets',
+                'description': 'Pixel offsets applied to each element '
+                               '(positive x moves right, positive y moves down)',
+                'x-advanced': True,
+                'properties': {},
+                'additionalProperties': False,
+            })
+            layout.setdefault('properties', {})
+            for element_key, block in layout_props.items():
+                layout['properties'].setdefault(element_key, block)
+
+        return expanded
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("Error expanding x-style-elements: %s", e)
+        return schema
+
+
+def _element_block_from_spec(element_key: str,
+                             spec: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build one expanded per-element schema block from its declaration."""
+    properties: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    order = []
+
+    font_spec = spec.get('font')
+    if isinstance(font_spec, dict):
+        font_prop: Dict[str, Any] = {
+            'type': 'string',
+            'title': 'Font Family',
+            'x-advanced': True,
+        }
+        if 'default' in font_spec:
+            font_prop['default'] = font_spec['default']
+        if isinstance(font_spec.get('enum'), list):
+            font_prop['enum'] = list(font_spec['enum'])
+        properties['font'] = font_prop
+        order.append('font')
+
+    size_spec = spec.get('size')
+    if isinstance(size_spec, dict):
+        size_prop: Dict[str, Any] = {
+            'type': 'integer',
+            'title': 'Font Size',
+            'description': 'Font size in pixels',
+            'x-advanced': True,
+        }
+        if 'default' in size_spec:
+            size_prop['default'] = size_spec['default']
+        if 'min' in size_spec:
+            size_prop['minimum'] = size_spec['min']
+        if 'max' in size_spec:
+            size_prop['maximum'] = size_spec['max']
+        properties['font_size'] = size_prop
+        order.append('font_size')
+
+    color_spec = spec.get('color')
+    if isinstance(color_spec, dict):
+        color_prop: Dict[str, Any] = {
+            'type': 'array',
+            'title': 'Text Color',
+            'items': {'type': 'integer', 'minimum': 0, 'maximum': 255},
+            'minItems': 3,
+            'maxItems': 3,
+            'x-widget': 'color-picker',
+        }
+        if 'default' in color_spec:
+            color_prop['default'] = list(color_spec['default'])
+        properties['text_color'] = color_prop
+        order.append('text_color')
+
+    return {
+        'type': 'object',
+        'title': spec.get('title', element_key),
+        'x-style-managed': True,
+        'x-propertyOrder': order,
+        'additionalProperties': False,
+        'properties': properties,
+    }
+
+
+def _offset_block_from_spec(element_key: str,
+                            spec: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build one layout.<element> offset block (x/y, default 0)."""
+    axis = {
+        'type': 'integer',
+        'default': 0,
+        'x-advanced': True,
+    }
+    return {
+        'type': 'object',
+        'title': spec.get('title', element_key),
+        'x-style-managed': True,
+        'additionalProperties': False,
+        'properties': {
+            'x_offset': dict(axis, title='X Offset'),
+            'y_offset': dict(axis, title='Y Offset'),
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def defaults_from_schema(schema: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Extract per-element style defaults from a config schema dict.
+
+    Understands both declaration forms: the compact ``x-style-elements``
+    map, and hand-written per-element blocks under
+    ``customization.properties`` (their ``font`` / ``font_size`` /
+    ``text_color`` property defaults). Returns a config-shaped dict::
+
+        {"customization": {"<element>": {"font": ..., "font_size": ...,
+                                         "text_color": [...]}, ...}}
+
+    Elements with no declared defaults are omitted. Never raises.
+    """
+    elements: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+    try:
+        customization = schema.get('properties', {}).get('customization')
+        if not isinstance(customization, dict):
+            return {'customization': elements}
+
+        declaration = customization.get('x-style-elements')
+        if isinstance(declaration, dict):
+            for element_key, spec in declaration.items():
+                if not isinstance(spec, dict):
+                    continue
+                defaults: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+                font_spec = spec.get('font')
+                if isinstance(font_spec, dict) and 'default' in font_spec:
+                    defaults['font'] = font_spec['default']
+                size_spec = spec.get('size')
+                if isinstance(size_spec, dict) and 'default' in size_spec:
+                    defaults['font_size'] = size_spec['default']
+                color_spec = spec.get('color')
+                if isinstance(color_spec, dict) and 'default' in color_spec:
+                    defaults['text_color'] = list(color_spec['default'])
+                if defaults:
+                    elements[element_key] = defaults
+
+        properties = customization.get('properties')
+        if isinstance(properties, dict):
+            for element_key, block in properties.items():
+                if element_key == 'layout' or element_key in elements:
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(block, dict):
+                    continue
+                block_props = block.get('properties')
+                if not isinstance(block_props, dict):
+                    continue
+                defaults = {}
+                for style_key in _STYLE_KEYS:
+                    prop = block_props.get(style_key)
+                    if isinstance(prop, dict) and 'default' in prop:
+                        defaults[style_key] = prop['default']
+                if defaults:
+                    elements[element_key] = defaults
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("Error extracting style defaults from schema: %s", e)
+    return {'customization': elements}
+
+
+def defaults_from_schema_file(schema_path: Union[str, os.PathLike]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """``defaults_from_schema`` for a schema file on disk. A missing or
+    malformed file yields empty defaults (with a logged warning) — every
+    configured value then counts as a user override, which is the safe
+    degradation. Never raises."""
+    try:
+        with open(schema_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+            schema = json.load(f)
+        if not isinstance(schema, dict):
+            raise ValueError("schema is not a JSON object")
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("Could not read style defaults from %s: %s",
+                       schema_path, e)
+        return {'customization': {}}
+    return defaults_from_schema(schema)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Resolver
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _normalize_color(value: Any) -> Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+    """An (r, g, b) tuple of ints in 0..255, or None for anything else."""
+    if isinstance(value, (list, tuple)) and len(value) == 3:
+        try:
+            rgb = tuple(int(c) for c in value)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            return None
+        if all(0 <= c <= 255 for c in rgb):
+            return rgb  # type: ignore[return-value]
+    return None
+
+
+class ElementStyleResolver:
+    """Resolves per-element user styling against schema defaults.
+
+    Built from a plugin's live config dict and the defaults extracted from
+    its own ``config_schema.json`` (``defaults_from_schema_file``). The
+    config dict is held by reference as ``_config`` — consumers compare
+    identity (``resolver._config is not self.config``) to decide when a
+    resolver must be rebuilt after ``on_config_change`` swaps the dict.
+
+    A configured font/size/color counts as user-forced only when it differs
+    from the schema default (see module docstring); otherwise ``style()``
+    returns the caller's classic values verbatim, keeping untouched configs
+    byte-identical to pre-customization rendering.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]],
+                 defaults: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None):
+        # Keep the exact object for identity-based invalidation, even if the
+        # caller hands us something odd; reads are guarded.
+        self._config = config
+        if isinstance(defaults, dict):
+            element_defaults = defaults.get('customization', {})
+        else:
+            element_defaults = {}
+        self._defaults: Dict[str, Any] = (
+            element_defaults if isinstance(element_defaults, dict) else {})
+        self._memo: Dict[Any, ElementStyle] = {}
+
+    # -- internal accessors -------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _customization(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        config = self._config if isinstance(self._config, dict) else {}
+        customization = config.get('customization', {})
+        return customization if isinstance(customization, dict) else {}
+
+    def _element_config(self, element_key: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        element = self._customization().get(element_key, {})
+        return element if isinstance(element, dict) else {}
+
+    def _element_defaults(self, element_key: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        defaults = self._defaults.get(element_key, {})
+        return defaults if isinstance(defaults, dict) else {}
+
+    # -- public API ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def style(self, element_key: str,
+              classic_font: str = _FALLBACK_FONT_NAME,
+              classic_size: int = 8,
+              classic_color: Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]] = None) -> ElementStyle:
+        """Resolve one element's style. Never raises.
+
+        Args:
+            element_key: Key under ``config['customization']`` (e.g.
+                ``'title_text'``).
+            classic_font: Font filename the plugin's classic (pre-
+                customization) code used for this element.
+            classic_size: Classic pixel size.
+            classic_color: Classic RGB color, or None when the caller only
+                cares about the font (``.color`` then falls back to the
+                schema default color, else white).
+
+        Returns:
+            ElementStyle with the loaded font face, RGB color, (x, y)
+            offset, and the ``user_forced`` / ``user_forced_color`` flags.
+        """
+        try:
+            memo_key = (element_key, classic_font, classic_size,
+                        _normalize_color(classic_color) or classic_color)
+            memoized = self._memo.get(memo_key)
+            if memoized is not None:
+                return memoized
+        except Exception:
+            memo_key = None
+
+        try:
+            resolved = self._resolve(element_key, classic_font,
+                                     classic_size, classic_color)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Error resolving style for element '%s': %s — "
+                           "using classic style", element_key, e)
+            resolved = self._classic_style(classic_font, classic_size,
+                                           classic_color)
+        if memo_key is not None:
+            self._memo[memo_key] = resolved
+        return resolved
+
+    def offset(self, element_key: str) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+        """The user's ``customization.layout.<element>`` (x, y) pixel
+        offset, defaulting to (0, 0). Never raises."""
+        return (self.offset_value(element_key, 'x_offset', 0),
+                self.offset_value(element_key, 'y_offset', 0))
+
+    def offset_value(self, element_key: str, axis: str, default: int = 0) -> int:
+        """One ``customization.layout.<element>.<axis>`` value as an int.
+
+        ``axis`` is usually ``'x_offset'`` / ``'y_offset'`` but any key is
+        honored (e.g. the scoreboards' ``'away_x_offset'``). Numeric
+        strings are coerced; anything else degrades to ``default``. Never
+        raises.
+        """
+        try:
+            layout = self._customization().get('layout', {})
+            if not isinstance(layout, dict):
+                return int(default)
+            element = layout.get(element_key, {})
+            if not isinstance(element, dict):
+                return int(default)
+            value = element.get(axis, default)
+            if isinstance(value, bool):
+                return int(default)
+            if isinstance(value, (int, float)):
+                return int(value)
+            if isinstance(value, str):
+                try:
+                    return int(float(value))
+                except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Invalid layout offset for %s.%s: %r, using %s",
+                        element_key, axis, value, default)
+                    return int(default)
+            return int(default)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Error reading layout offset %s.%s: %s",
+                           element_key, axis, e)
+            try:
+                return int(default)
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                return 0
+
+    # -- resolution internals -----------------------------------------------
+
+    def _resolve(self, element_key: str, classic_font: str,
+                 classic_size: int,
+                 classic_color: Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]]) -> ElementStyle:
+        element_config = self._element_config(element_key)
+        element_defaults = self._element_defaults(element_key)
+
+        # Font family: forced only when it differs from the schema default
+        # (falling back to the classic font as the reference when the
+        # schema declares none).
+        default_font = element_defaults.get('font', classic_font)
+        configured_font = element_config.get('font')
+        font_forced = (isinstance(configured_font, str) and configured_font
+                       and configured_font != default_font)
+
+        # Font size: same rule, with defensive int coercion.
+        default_size = self._coerce_size(
+            element_defaults.get('font_size'), None)
+        if default_size is None:
+            default_size = self._coerce_size(classic_size, 8)
+        configured_size = self._coerce_size(element_config.get('font_size'),
+                                            None)
+        size_forced = (configured_size is not None
+                       and configured_size != default_size)
+
+        font_name = configured_font if font_forced else classic_font
+        font_size = configured_size if size_forced else self._coerce_size(
+            classic_size, 8)
+        user_forced = bool(font_forced or size_forced)
+
+        # Color: forced only when it differs from the schema default (or,
+        # absent one, from the classic color).
+        default_color = _normalize_color(element_defaults.get('text_color'))
+        configured_color = _normalize_color(element_config.get('text_color'))
+        reference_color = (default_color if default_color is not None
+                           else _normalize_color(classic_color))
+        color_forced = (configured_color is not None
+                        and configured_color != reference_color)
+        if color_forced:
+            color = configured_color
+        else:
+            color = (_normalize_color(classic_color) or default_color
+                     or (255, 255, 255))
+
+        return ElementStyle(
+            font=load_font(font_name, font_size),
+            color=color,
+            offset=self.offset(element_key),
+            font_name=font_name,
+            font_size=font_size,
+            user_forced=user_forced,
+            user_forced_color=bool(color_forced),
+        )
+
+    def _classic_style(self, classic_font: str, classic_size: int,
+                       classic_color: Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]]) -> ElementStyle:
+        """The untouched fallback style — used when resolution itself
+        fails, so ``style()`` can keep its never-raises promise."""
+        size = self._coerce_size(classic_size, 8)
+        return ElementStyle(
+            font=load_font(classic_font, size),
+            color=_normalize_color(classic_color) or (255, 255, 255),
+            offset=(0, 0),
+            font_name=classic_font,
+            font_size=size,
+            user_forced=False,
+            user_forced_color=False,
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _coerce_size(value: Any, default: Optional[int]) -> Optional[int]:
+        """An int pixel size, or ``default`` for None/garbage."""
+        if value is None or isinstance(value, bool):
+            return default
+        try:
+            size = int(value)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            return default
+        return size if size > 0 else default
diff --git a/src/plugin_system/schema_manager.py b/src/plugin_system/schema_manager.py
index 3ca80630..5b894100 100644
--- a/src/plugin_system/schema_manager.py
+++ b/src/plugin_system/schema_manager.py
@@ -115,7 +115,17 @@ class SchemaManager:
             if not isinstance(schema, dict):
                 self.logger.error(f"Invalid schema format for {plugin_id}: not a dictionary")
                 return None
-            
+
+            # Expand any customization.x-style-elements declaration into the
+            # full per-element style blocks (font/size/color + layout
+            # offsets) the web-UI config form renders. No-op for schemas
+            # without the declaration; never raises.
+            try:
+                from src.element_style import expand_style_elements
+                schema = expand_style_elements(schema)
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
+
             # Cache the schema
             self._schema_cache[plugin_id] = schema
             
diff --git a/test/test_element_style.py b/test/test_element_style.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6270e06f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_element_style.py
@@ -0,0 +1,396 @@
+"""
+Tests for src.element_style — the shared per-element style resolver behind
+the x-style-elements system.
+
+The contract under test (defined by the plugin consumers: of-the-day,
+ledmatrix-music, football-scoreboard):
+
+- defaults_from_schema_file parses BOTH declaration forms — the compact
+  x-style-elements map and hand-written customization blocks.
+- expand_style_elements turns an x-style-elements declaration into the full
+  per-element blocks (plus layout offsets) the web-UI form renders.
+- A config value counts as user-forced only when it genuinely differs from
+  the schema default; untouched (or schema-default-populated) configs
+  resolve to EXACTLY the classic font/size/color, keeping rendering
+  byte-identical.
+- style() never raises; malformed input degrades to the classic style.
+"""
+
+import json
+import os
+
+import pytest
+from PIL import ImageFont
+
+from src.element_style import (
+    ElementStyleResolver,
+    defaults_from_schema,
+    defaults_from_schema_file,
+    expand_style_elements,
+    load_font,
+    resolve_font_path,
+)
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Schema fixtures
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Compact declaration form (of-the-day's shape).
+STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA = {
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {
+        "enabled": {"type": "boolean", "default": False},
+        "customization": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "x-style-elements": {
+                "title_text": {
+                    "title": "Title",
+                    "font": {"default": "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"},
+                    "size": {"default": 8, "min": 4, "max": 16},
+                    "color": {"default": [255, 255, 255]},
+                    "offsets": True,
+                },
+                "body_text": {
+                    "title": "Body Text",
+                    "font": {"default": "4x6-font.ttf"},
+                    "size": {"default": 6, "min": 4, "max": 12},
+                    "color": {"default": [200, 200, 200]},
+                    "offsets": True,
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    },
+}
+
+# Manual declaration form (the scoreboards' / music's shape).
+MANUAL_SCHEMA = {
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {
+        "customization": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "status_text": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "properties": {
+                        "font": {"type": "string",
+                                 "default": "4x6-font.ttf"},
+                        "font_size": {"type": "integer", "default": 6},
+                    },
+                },
+                "score_text": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "properties": {
+                        "font": {"type": "string",
+                                 "default": "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"},
+                        "font_size": {"type": "integer", "default": 10},
+                        "text_color": {"type": "array",
+                                       "default": [255, 255, 0]},
+                    },
+                },
+                "layout": {"type": "object", "properties": {}},
+            },
+        },
+    },
+}
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def style_schema_path(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "config_schema.json"
+    path.write_text(json.dumps(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA))
+    return str(path)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def manual_schema_path(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "config_schema.json"
+    path.write_text(json.dumps(MANUAL_SCHEMA))
+    return str(path)
+
+
+def _resolver(config, schema_path):
+    return ElementStyleResolver(config, defaults_from_schema_file(schema_path))
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Schema parsing
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestDefaultsFromSchema:
+    def test_x_style_elements_defaults(self, style_schema_path):
+        defaults = defaults_from_schema_file(style_schema_path)
+        cust = defaults["customization"]
+        assert cust["title_text"] == {"font": "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+                                      "font_size": 8,
+                                      "text_color": [255, 255, 255]}
+        assert cust["body_text"]["font_size"] == 6
+        assert cust["body_text"]["text_color"] == [200, 200, 200]
+
+    def test_manual_block_defaults(self, manual_schema_path):
+        defaults = defaults_from_schema_file(manual_schema_path)
+        cust = defaults["customization"]
+        assert cust["status_text"] == {"font": "4x6-font.ttf", "font_size": 6}
+        assert cust["score_text"]["text_color"] == [255, 255, 0]
+        assert "layout" not in cust
+
+    def test_missing_file_degrades_to_empty(self, tmp_path):
+        defaults = defaults_from_schema_file(str(tmp_path / "nope.json"))
+        assert defaults == {"customization": {}}
+
+    def test_malformed_file_degrades_to_empty(self, tmp_path):
+        path = tmp_path / "bad.json"
+        path.write_text("{not json")
+        assert defaults_from_schema_file(str(path)) == {"customization": {}}
+
+    def test_schema_without_customization(self):
+        assert defaults_from_schema({"properties": {}}) == {"customization": {}}
+
+
+class TestExpandStyleElements:
+    def test_expansion_generates_blocks(self):
+        expanded = expand_style_elements(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA)
+        cust = expanded["properties"]["customization"]["properties"]
+        title = cust["title_text"]
+        assert title["x-style-managed"] is True
+        assert title["properties"]["font"]["default"] == \
+            "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"
+        assert title["properties"]["font_size"]["default"] == 8
+        assert title["properties"]["font_size"]["minimum"] == 4
+        assert title["properties"]["font_size"]["maximum"] == 16
+        assert cust["body_text"]["properties"]["text_color"]["default"] == \
+            [200, 200, 200]
+
+    def test_expansion_generates_layout_offsets(self):
+        expanded = expand_style_elements(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA)
+        layout = expanded["properties"]["customization"]["properties"]["layout"]
+        assert "title_text" in layout["properties"]
+        offsets = layout["properties"]["body_text"]["properties"]
+        assert offsets["x_offset"]["default"] == 0
+        assert offsets["y_offset"]["default"] == 0
+
+    def test_input_schema_not_mutated(self):
+        before = json.dumps(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, sort_keys=True)
+        expand_style_elements(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA)
+        assert json.dumps(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, sort_keys=True) == before
+
+    def test_no_declaration_returns_same_object(self):
+        assert expand_style_elements(MANUAL_SCHEMA) is MANUAL_SCHEMA
+        empty = {"properties": {}}
+        assert expand_style_elements(empty) is empty
+
+    def test_garbage_input_never_raises(self):
+        bad = {"properties": {"customization": {"x-style-elements": "nope"}}}
+        assert expand_style_elements(bad) is bad
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Classic identity: untouched configs resolve to the classic style
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestClassicIdentity:
+    def test_bare_config_resolves_classic(self, style_schema_path):
+        r = _resolver({}, style_schema_path)
+        style = r.style("title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+                        classic_size=8, classic_color=(255, 255, 255))
+        assert style.font_name == "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"
+        assert style.font_size == 8
+        assert style.color == (255, 255, 255)
+        assert style.offset == (0, 0)
+        assert not style.user_forced
+        assert not style.user_forced_color
+        assert isinstance(style.font, ImageFont.FreeTypeFont)
+        assert style.font.size == 8
+
+    def test_schema_populated_config_is_not_an_override(self, style_schema_path):
+        # The web UI's save flow writes the full schema defaults into config
+        # on every save — that must not count as a user override.
+        config = {"customization": {
+            "title_text": {"font": "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf", "font_size": 8,
+                           "text_color": [255, 255, 255]},
+            "layout": {"title_text": {"x_offset": 0, "y_offset": 0}},
+        }}
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8, classic_color=(255, 255, 255))
+        assert not style.user_forced
+        assert not style.user_forced_color
+        assert style.font_size == 8
+        assert style.color == (255, 255, 255)
+        assert style.offset == (0, 0)
+
+    def test_schema_default_falls_back_to_classic_not_schema_font(
+            self, manual_schema_path):
+        # Classic values and schema defaults can legitimately differ
+        # (football's status_text: schema says 4x6, classic loader used
+        # PressStart). A schema-default config value must yield the CLASSIC
+        # font, byte-identical to the old loader.
+        config = {"customization": {"status_text": {"font": "4x6-font.ttf",
+                                                    "font_size": 6}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, manual_schema_path).style(
+            "status_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=6)
+        assert not style.user_forced
+        assert style.font_name == "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"
+        assert style.font_size == 6
+
+    def test_same_font_object_from_cache(self, style_schema_path):
+        r = _resolver({}, style_schema_path)
+        s1 = r.style("title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+                     classic_size=8)
+        s2 = ElementStyleResolver({}, {}).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8)
+        assert s1.font is s2.font
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# User overrides engage
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestUserOverrides:
+    def test_font_override(self, style_schema_path):
+        config = {"customization": {"title_text": {"font": "4x6-font.ttf"}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8)
+        assert style.user_forced
+        assert style.font_name == "4x6-font.ttf"
+        assert style.font_size == 8  # size untouched -> classic
+
+    def test_size_override(self, style_schema_path):
+        config = {"customization": {"title_text": {
+            "font": "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf", "font_size": 16}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8)
+        assert style.user_forced
+        assert style.font_name == "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"
+        assert style.font_size == 16
+        assert style.font.size == 16
+
+    def test_size_override_detected_vs_schema_default(self, manual_schema_path):
+        # font_size 8 differs from the schema default 6 -> forced.
+        config = {"customization": {"status_text": {"font": "4x6-font.ttf",
+                                                    "font_size": 8}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, manual_schema_path).style(
+            "status_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=6)
+        assert style.user_forced
+        assert style.font_size == 8
+
+    def test_color_override(self, style_schema_path):
+        config = {"customization": {"title_text": {"text_color": [255, 0, 0]}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8, classic_color=(255, 255, 255))
+        assert style.user_forced_color
+        assert not style.user_forced
+        assert style.color == (255, 0, 0)
+
+    def test_offsets(self, style_schema_path):
+        config = {"customization": {"layout": {
+            "title_text": {"x_offset": 4, "y_offset": -2}}}}
+        r = _resolver(config, style_schema_path)
+        assert r.offset("title_text") == (4, -2)
+        assert r.offset("body_text") == (0, 0)
+        style = r.style("title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+                        classic_size=8)
+        assert style.offset == (4, -2)
+
+    def test_offset_value_arbitrary_axis_and_strings(self, style_schema_path):
+        # The scoreboards read non-standard axes (away_x_offset) and configs
+        # can carry numeric strings/floats.
+        config = {"customization": {"layout": {"records": {
+            "away_x_offset": "3", "home_x_offset": 2.7}}}}
+        r = _resolver(config, style_schema_path)
+        assert r.offset_value("records", "away_x_offset", 0) == 3
+        assert r.offset_value("records", "home_x_offset", 0) == 2
+        assert r.offset_value("records", "missing_axis", 5) == 5
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Defensive degradation
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestDegradation:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("config", [
+        None,
+        {"customization": "not a dict"},
+        {"customization": {"title_text": "not a dict"}},
+        {"customization": {"title_text": {"font": 42, "font_size": "huge",
+                                          "text_color": "red"}}},
+        {"customization": {"layout": {"title_text": {"x_offset": "junk"}}}},
+    ])
+    def test_bad_config_degrades_to_classic(self, config, style_schema_path):
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8, classic_color=(10, 20, 30))
+        assert not style.user_forced
+        assert not style.user_forced_color
+        assert style.font_name == "PressStart2P-Regular.ttf"
+        assert style.font_size == 8
+        assert style.color == (10, 20, 30)
+        assert style.offset == (0, 0)
+
+    def test_unknown_font_falls_back(self, style_schema_path):
+        config = {"customization": {"title_text": {"font": "no-such.ttf"}}}
+        style = _resolver(config, style_schema_path).style(
+            "title_text", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+            classic_size=8)
+        # The override IS honored as forced, but the face degrades safely.
+        assert style.user_forced
+        assert style.font is not None
+
+    def test_empty_defaults_treats_config_as_reference_to_classic(self):
+        # No schema defaults at all: a config value equal to the classic
+        # value is not forced; a different one is.
+        r = ElementStyleResolver(
+            {"customization": {"e": {"font": "4x6-font.ttf"}}}, {})
+        assert not r.style("e", classic_font="4x6-font.ttf",
+                           classic_size=6).user_forced
+        assert r.style("e", classic_font="PressStart2P-Regular.ttf",
+                       classic_size=6).user_forced
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Resolver plumbing the consumers rely on
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestResolverPlumbing:
+    def test_config_identity_exposed(self, style_schema_path):
+        # Consumers rebuild the resolver when the config dict is swapped:
+        # `resolver._config is not self.config`.
+        config = {"customization": {}}
+        r = _resolver(config, style_schema_path)
+        assert r._config is config
+
+    def test_font_path_resolution_is_cwd_independent(self, tmp_path,
+                                                     monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)  # no assets/fonts under cwd
+        path = resolve_font_path("PressStart2P-Regular.ttf")
+        assert path is not None and os.path.isfile(path)
+        font = load_font("PressStart2P-Regular.ttf", 8)
+        assert isinstance(font, ImageFont.FreeTypeFont)
+
+    def test_bdf_font_loads_as_freetype_face(self):
+        import freetype
+        font = load_font("5x7.bdf", 7)
+        assert isinstance(font, freetype.Face)
+
+    def test_schema_manager_expands_on_load(self, tmp_path):
+        # The web-UI form path: SchemaManager.load_schema serves the
+        # expanded schema so the style blocks actually appear in the UI.
+        from src.plugin_system.schema_manager import SchemaManager
+        plugin_dir = tmp_path / "plugins" / "styled"
+        plugin_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (plugin_dir / "config_schema.json").write_text(
+            json.dumps(STYLE_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA))
+        (plugin_dir / "manifest.json").write_text(json.dumps({
+            "id": "styled", "config_schema": "config_schema.json"}))
+        manager = SchemaManager(plugins_dir=tmp_path / "plugins",
+                                project_root=tmp_path)
+        schema = manager.load_schema("styled")
+        assert schema is not None
+        cust = schema["properties"]["customization"]["properties"]
+        assert cust["title_text"]["x-style-managed"] is True
+        assert "title_text" in cust["layout"]["properties"]